Kuruvilla John, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, recently was named editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Energy for a Clean Environment published by Begell House.

He, along with Kevin Crist, director and professor of chemical engineering at Ohio University and co-editor-in-chief of the journal, are revamping the journal and changing its overall direction to focus on the theme of energy for a clean environment. 

“Energy production and consumption have huge footprints affecting the environment surrounding us and the planet at large,” said John. “The dominant sources of energy today are heavily dependent on fossil-based fuel systems and these have multi-media environmental impacts in the form of air, water and soil pollution, climate change and resource utilization. Development of new and innovative clean energy technology is extremely crucial for our world as we move towards a sustainable future needed for human survival.”

By redesigning the journal, John feels it will more closely reflect the field.

“The focus of the journal was very narrow and it targeted a very specific sub-discipline of heat transfer within mechanical and energy systems. The area of clean energy and the environment, however, is much more inter-disciplinary in nature,” said John. “We decided to revamp the focus of the journal and also bring in new faces on the editorial board from around the world with certainly much more diverse experience. We are currently recruiting top scientists from various research productive nations in Asia-Oceania, EU, Africa and the Americas to serve on this board.”

The appointment, which began in January, lasts for four years.